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We have had a blacksmith make a steel railing for our indoor loft and decided not to paint it. The raw steel is so stylish. Now I'm wondering if we still need to apply some lacquer or treat it in another way to avoid rust.
Anne
We have had a blacksmith make a steel railing for our indoor loft and decided not to paint it. The raw steel is so stylish. Now I'm wondering if we still need to apply some lacquer or treat it in another way to avoid rust.
Anne
It's probably only the supervisor who will be held in place. The steel will not rust, but it will oxidize on the surface and you will get black hands for a while. Start by washing it thoroughly with thinner, which dissolves the surface coating, as all metals oxidize with the oxygen in the air. If you're lucky, it might hold up. Painting is not a good idea as the paint won't adhere and will flake off.
Member
· Södermanlands län0
· 983 posts
Linseed oil firing is a method that provides a nice finish and rust protection.
Worked with sheet metal and forging the last time "untreated" steel in interior details was in vogue, around the turn of the millennium. I've made many railings and similar items in public spaces. Everything was clear-coated, otherwise, it quickly looked really shabby. The coating was done by coating companies, so I don't know what varnish they used, but it held up.
So to keep the surface looking good, you should clear-coat the steel. Otherwise, over time you'll get rusty fingerprints here and there, especially in areas where people touch only occasionally. In places where people rub continuously, it holds up better.
When I did small jobs, I coated them myself with regular clear varnish. But back then, nearly all clear varnish was oil-based, and it typically adhered really well to bare steel, as long as you degreased it first with something like mineral spirits and then alcohol. Today, you probably have to search a bit for good varnish for steel. Clear varnish in spray cans might still work. It used to work well in the past, and it's probably still based on some organic solvent rather than water.
So to keep the surface looking good, you should clear-coat the steel. Otherwise, over time you'll get rusty fingerprints here and there, especially in areas where people touch only occasionally. In places where people rub continuously, it holds up better.
When I did small jobs, I coated them myself with regular clear varnish. But back then, nearly all clear varnish was oil-based, and it typically adhered really well to bare steel, as long as you degreased it first with something like mineral spirits and then alcohol. Today, you probably have to search a bit for good varnish for steel. Clear varnish in spray cans might still work. It used to work well in the past, and it's probably still based on some organic solvent rather than water.
Know-It-All
· Västra Götaland
· 12 287 posts
Paint wash and matte clear coat, then I think you'll get what you're looking for.
